Cameron’s reshuffle: Diversity works

We are two years away from the next general election, but David Cameron’s Cabinet reshuffle is an early sign of his intent. Cameron has made an attempt at diversity, shaking off criticisms of only promoting white, middle class males from the south.

There were only a few alterations in Cabinet, but there were more significant changes among the junior ministers in what Grant Shapps called “a reshuffle for hardworking people”. BME MP’s have made significant gains in Cameron’s reshuffle.

Sajid Javid was promoted from economic secretary to the treasury to financial secretary to the treasury. Before starting a career in politics Javid worked for Chase Manhattan Bank and Deutsche Bank. His father was a bus driver and an early influence on his conservatism. Javid is close to George Osborne and is expected to have a bright future in the party.

OBV alumni Helen Grant MP has taken on a prominent role of sports minister while retaining her position as junior equalities minister. Grant will leave her position in the justice department, replaced by Shailesh Vara, where she had worked on women's and equality issues.

Grant who is an accomplished athlete, she was Judo champion at 16, and represented Cumbria in hockey, tennis, athletics, and cross-country. Despite her early struggles in the party, it appears Grant is now settling in and her talents are being recognised by the party leadership.

Among the other Tory women that got promotions were former TV host Esther McVey who became employment minister, Nicky Morgan moved from assistant government whip to economic secretary to the Treasury, Jane Ellison became a Parliamentary Under Secretary at Department of Health and Anna Soubry became the first female MP to be made a defence minister.

Cameron’s Parliamentary Private Secretary Sam Gyimah moved to the Whips Office taking on the impressive title of ‘Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury’. Gyimah is another rising star in the Tory party; his roots are in business and he has support from the backbenchers. Gyimah has been dubbed the Prime Ministers ‘eyes and ears’.

Alan Ssempebwa